One of the few successful programs in treating substance abuse has been AA. Jetsunma explains how the AA method can be applied to our addiction to samsara. (JST 144)
A boundlessly sumptuous delight. She invokes reverential affect in great leaps and endless bounds. Effortlessly trenchant, she delivers wisdom by way of poetic melody. But it is not only the elegance of her syntactic tapestry so sculpturally woven, but the musicality her utterances entrain. Love her. - Godfrey Silas
A big part is because they meaning the founders of AA studied a lot of the classics, stoicism for one thing. Stoicism if you actually read it and not the definition, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca, you will see how similar it is to Buddhism in many many ways
Certainly AA is about desire, an "inner posture," the arrival at a state at which one is helpable, ego-clinging, desire, and, of course, samsara. In that sense the practice of AA steps is very much like the practice of Buddhism. However, although the AA program is not theological or fundamentally denominational, the language of the literature borrows heavily from the Christian sky-god tradition. The Higher Power may be interpreted by some as a non-theistic, transcendent presence, but the AA literature makes constant references to "God." And that God is male (always referred to as a "He"), a grace-giver, a miracle worker, and a creator. It is also assumed in the program that no recovery can be accomplished without the intercession of that transcendent Higher Power, which the literature more often refers to as God (the realm of the "Spirit" is given token acknowledgement, but, in general, "God" as the Higher Power is given much more status in the AA program) Basically, in AA, then, we are talking about an "interventionist" divinity, a concept that is not adhered to in the Buddhist tradition. That is a very, very profound difference in spite of the similarities between the practices and forms of self-revelation that both AA and Buddhism have in common Some of us bridge that gap by referring to God and the Higher Power as non-theological metaphors. For many of us they are metaphors for the transformative power of that intense spiritual energy that exists in the recovery rooms; in the conversations about sobriety; in the sharings of our struggles, our joys, our moments of awareness; in the spiritual practices of the members (meditation, self-inventory, keeping journals), In many ways, our approach is similar to the Tao Te Ching's notion of the infinite "manifested" in the finite. In fact the finite AA practices, the sharings in the rooms, our many conversations about the literature and the steps, our changing behaviors, our service, our meditation or prayer practices----are all "manifestations" of that Higher Power, which some call God. They are both the finite forms as well as the transcendent force of timeless infinity.
just an inquiry on the intervention divinity. I've prayed to guru rinpoche to protect bless and save me for over 20 years now. what would you call that if not intervention divinity?
Very well-thought-out post. As a non-practicing Christian recovering alcoholic with heavy leanings towards Buddhism the step 3 is the big difference. I feel Bill Wilson and Carl Jung heavily approved of Buddhism due to its deep spirituality. I'm not terribly hung up on deities. I know one thing I'm not God but I have God inside me. I also know that the more I listen to these teachings the closer I am to the fourth dimension. Cradle Catholic who in these last sober 7 years is on a spiritual path. Buddhism is a philosophy not a religion at least as I see it. I still love AA Al-Anon and ACA but I also incorporate Buddhist teachings. I have been on the Noble Path
A boundlessly sumptuous delight. She invokes reverential affect in great leaps and endless bounds. Effortlessly trenchant, she delivers wisdom by way of poetic melody. But it is not only the elegance of her syntactic tapestry so sculpturally woven, but the musicality her utterances entrain. Love her.
- Godfrey Silas
A big part is because they meaning the founders of AA studied a lot of the classics, stoicism for one thing. Stoicism if you actually read it and not the definition, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca, you will see how similar it is to Buddhism in many many ways
I am a member of AA for almost 14 yrs + have not had a drink for almost 14 yrs. great talk! u make so many great points!
Grateful!
most interesting..
Certainly AA is about desire, an "inner posture," the arrival at a state at which one is helpable, ego-clinging, desire, and, of course, samsara. In that sense the practice of AA steps is very much like the practice of Buddhism.
However, although the AA program is not theological or fundamentally denominational, the language of the literature borrows heavily from the Christian sky-god tradition. The Higher Power may be interpreted by some as a non-theistic, transcendent presence, but the AA literature makes constant references to "God." And that God is male (always referred to as a "He"), a grace-giver, a miracle worker, and a creator.
It is also assumed in the program that no recovery can be accomplished without the intercession of that transcendent Higher Power, which the literature more often refers to as God (the realm of the "Spirit" is given token acknowledgement, but, in general, "God" as the Higher Power is given much more status in the AA program)
Basically, in AA, then, we are talking about an "interventionist" divinity, a concept that is not adhered to in the Buddhist tradition. That is a very, very profound difference in spite of the similarities between the practices and forms of self-revelation that both AA and Buddhism have in common
Some of us bridge that gap by referring to God and the Higher Power as non-theological metaphors. For many of us they are metaphors for the transformative power of that intense spiritual energy that exists in the recovery rooms; in the conversations about sobriety; in the sharings of our struggles, our joys, our moments of awareness; in the spiritual practices of the members (meditation, self-inventory, keeping journals),
In many ways, our approach is similar to the Tao Te Ching's notion of the infinite "manifested" in the finite. In fact the finite AA practices, the sharings in the rooms, our many conversations about the literature and the steps, our changing behaviors, our service, our meditation or prayer practices----are all "manifestations" of that Higher Power, which some call God. They are both the finite forms as well as the transcendent force of timeless infinity.
just an inquiry on the intervention divinity. I've prayed to guru rinpoche to protect bless and save me for over 20 years now. what would you call that if not intervention divinity?
Very well-thought-out post. As a non-practicing Christian recovering alcoholic with heavy leanings towards Buddhism the step 3 is the big difference. I feel Bill Wilson and Carl Jung heavily approved of Buddhism due to its deep spirituality. I'm not terribly hung up on deities. I know one thing I'm not God but I have God inside me. I also know that the more I listen to these teachings the closer I am to the fourth dimension. Cradle Catholic who in these last sober 7 years is on a spiritual path. Buddhism is a philosophy not a religion at least as I see it. I still love AA Al-Anon and ACA but I also incorporate Buddhist teachings. I have been on the Noble Path
Does anyone recognize the music before the talk? Thanks for any response!
The song is "Mother Song 7 Line Prayer" by Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo. You can listen to and download the full track here: www.tara.org/music-by-jetsunma/